Courtyard House: The Chef's Intelligence System

Jia Dongxu carried a full bag of cornmeal home.

When Jia Zhangshi saw it, she was overjoyed. She only needed to glance at the grain bag to know that it was no less than 40 jin.

At that moment, she thought to herself, "Old Yi is so generous! Giving away dozens of kilograms of grain like that, it looks like white flour, he's fucking generous!"

But her son's face didn't look good, so Jia Zhangshi asked in confusion:

"What happened to your son? Did your master scold him?"

"Let them scold us, it won't cost us anything, as long as we have the food." After saying that, he eagerly opened the bag to check.

Upon seeing that it was cornmeal merchant Zhang, her face turned green, and she shouted:

"What does Lao Yi mean? Are you trying to fob me off like this? Cornmeal? Even a dog wouldn't eat that..."

Stray dog ​​A: "What the hell are you talking about? When did I say I wasn't going to eat anymore? Ganlin is cold..."

Tong Jie didn't mind; she knew very well why the Jia family had run out of food.

Because they ate several good meals during the Lunar New Year, the Jia family no longer wanted to eat coarse grains, so they replaced them with refined grains, which led to a shortage of food.

Otherwise, how could a hundred or so kilograms of grain a month not be enough to eat? That would be ridiculous.

"I'm going to find Old Yi, why are we being fed this?" Jia Zhangshi shouted, wanting to go find Yi Zhonghai.

As if on cue, Yi Zhonghai burst through the door, his face grim, and glared fiercely at Jia Zhangshi:

"What's going on? I get scolded even after I give you grain, Jia Zhangshi, can't you even be a human being?"

Yi Zhonghai couldn't help but start cursing. He had reached his limit and decided to curse first!

Jia Zhangshi's eyes darted around; she was somewhat flustered. She was still afraid of Yi Zhonghai, and at most, she would curse him a few times behind his back.

If it really came down to a direct confrontation, Jia Zhangshi didn't dare, so she desperately tried to wink at her son and daughter-in-law.

Tong Jie quickly gestured for Yi Zhonghai to sit down, poured him some tea, and explained in a gentle tone:

"Master, please don't be angry. That's just how my mother is; she can't keep her mouth shut."

"50 kilograms of noodles is too much. Won't it be enough for you?"

Tong Jie's words immediately calmed Yi Zhonghai down:

"It's alright, I have enough to eat over there. Tell me, how do you manage to make a living?"

"I'm wondering how I've ended up living even worse than the Lou family. It's kind of messed up..."

Upon hearing this, the Jia family members all blushed.

Because Yi Zhonghai's analogy was so apt, they really weren't doing as well as the Lou family. Who could possibly run out of food while living like that?

This is probably the first one in the courtyard, and they're too embarrassed to tell anyone, afraid their neighbors will laugh them to death.

It's the kind of thing that will make you laugh until you die...

Tong Jie took the initiative to explain.

Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai's lips twitched, and he couldn't help but shake his head, thinking, "What a mess they've made of their lives."

You still eat refined grains? Does your family have the means to do that?

When food wasn't scarce, your family could buy some premium grain. Back then, it wasn't expensive, and everyone could eat white flour every meal.

But the situation is different now. With food so scarce and rations being cut again and again, eating like this is simply inhumane.

Do you feel like you can do whatever you want with me, Yi Zhonghai, around?

I'm neither a landlord nor a wealthy landowner from Shanxi, and I don't have any surplus grain at home.

He came here to have a serious talk with them, to tell them that this isn't how life is supposed to be lived.

Yi Zhonghai looked at the group expressionlessly, glanced around, and then lit a cigarette.

"I'll say a few words, and you should remember them."

"At this time, the whole country suffered from poor harvests, and the ration quotas were reduced again and again. No one could be considered superior."

"Jia Zhangshi, don't try to say that your Jia family, a noble household, doesn't eat coarse grains. That's ridiculous. How could a noble household go hungry?"

"If you're so capable, then don't ask me; solve it yourself!"

Jia Zhangshi lowered her proud head after being spoken to, cursing Yi Zhonghai, that old man without a son, in her heart...

Yi Zhonghai continued:

"Your family's ration of about 100 jin is enough for you no matter how much you eat. If it's really not enough, then you can exchange refined grains for whole grains."

"We're all human, and we can fill our stomachs with coarse grains. At times like these, it's good enough to be able to eat our fill, so let's not worry about all that other stuff."

"Don't buy expensive grain either."

"With that money, wouldn't it be better to buy a roast duck to improve our meals?"

"You can buy a chicken at the pigeon market for only two yuan without needing a ticket."

"Dongxu, your combined salary with Tongjie is almost 80."

"Wouldn't it be better to spend a few dollars a week to buy a duck or a chicken to improve our meals?"

"How much money can it cost you?"

"Use your brain and think about it carefully. Stop eating refined grains and white flour all the time. Isn't meat more delicious?"

At this point, Yi Zhonghai's tone softened somewhat:

"Sister-in-law, Dongxu and Tongjie, it's not that I don't want to help you, but it's unnecessary."

"You could easily live a good life, but you choose to make a mess of it. Aren't you just making yourselves a laughingstock among the neighbors?"

Upon hearing this, the three members of the Jia family lowered their heads. Indeed, Yi Zhonghai's words made a lot of sense, and they needed to reflect on their actions.

It seems they've gotten so used to the good life that they've forgotten the hardships they endured in the past.

At this moment, Madam Jia spoke up:

"Old Yi, I admit it. I didn't set a good example. I'll change from now on!"

Yi Zhonghai was stunned, then laughed:

"Sister-in-law, I'm glad you said that; it shows you haven't forgotten your roots."

"Here, have a peony cigarette, I just opened it."

Madam Jia immediately smiled:

"That's great, Lao Yi, light one for me..."

Jia Dongxu also felt the urge to smoke and weakly said:

"Um... Master, I'll have one too, and light one for me while you're at it..."

"Get lost..." Yi Zhonghai glared at him.

Jia Dongxu didn't take it seriously and lit a cigarette. He was just joking to ease the tension.

How could he dare let his master light his cigarette? That would be a blasphemy!

After staying a while longer, Yi Zhonghai went home. He had said everything he needed to say, and it was up to the Jia family to decide what to do next.

What Yi Zhonghai needs to do is get the Jia family back on track and stop them from messing around with all that nonsense.

Yi Zhonghai understood that Jia Zhangshi was having a bad life because she was inherently an unscrupulous person.

Yi Zhonghai could understand why his apprentice and his wife hadn't managed to make a good life for themselves; after all, they were young and inexperienced, and he could guide them.

Giving him some food is nothing; he can easily afford it. He has hundreds of pounds of flour at home, so why wouldn't he give it to him?

Because we can't give it to them, otherwise they'll become spoiled and picky eaters.

Who knows when this will end? Yi Zhonghai needs to plan for the long term.

Although the two families appear to be one family, they eat separately.

Yi Zhonghai was somewhat relieved that he hadn't partnered with them; he had considered it before.

Now it seems that if we really started living together, my spouse and I would probably starve.

Just thinking about Yi Zhonghai sends chills down my spine; he's terrifying.

As someone who has been through it all, he knows all too well the importance of food; fortunately, it wasn't too late.